I love organics. Pure organic food is pesticide-free, genetic engineering (GMO)-free, and healthy. It even tastes better due to the lack of chemical pesticide residue, and quite frankly, I really don’t want to eat anything else. But how can we be sure that what we are getting is really organic in the way that we expect it to be?

My garden grows heirloom veggies, and the only pesticide I will use is diatomaceous earth. There is no artificial seed tampering, no mucking around with genetics in a lab, no fluoridated water and absolutely no artificial fertilizers. I consider it organic. I trust the seeds that I gather and the methods that I use to grow them. But can this be said for the USDA’s Certified Organics program?

Let’s just take a look at two seed production methods allowed in the USDA program – Cell Fusion and Mutagenesis.

Cell fusion is accomplished by combining the material from two different cells through either chemical (enzymes) or electrical stimulation. You are breaking down cell walls and intermingling material to see what comes out.

So, as long as you combine the cells of different types of the same vegetable such as two different types of broccoli through electrical stimulation or by chemicals in order to produce a seed that has a targeted trait, that is acceptable to the USDA National Organics Program (NOP).

“…the NOP further concludes that cell fusion (including protoplast fusion) is not considered an excluded method when the donor cells/protoplasts fall within the same taxonomic plant family, and when donor or recipient organisms are not derived using techniques of recombinant DNA technology.”

Mutagenesis creates a mutation in the plant cell through the application of radiation or toxic chemicals to the seed itself.

Mutation breeding is the process of exposing seeds to chemicals or radiation in order to generate mutants with desirable traits to be bred with other cultivars. Plants created using mutagenesis are sometimes called mutagenic plants or mutagenic seeds. From 1930–2007 more than 2540 mutagenic plant varietals have been released that have been derived either as direct mutants (70%) or from their progeny (30%). Crop plants account for 75% of released mutagenic species with the remaining 25% ornamentals or decorative plants. However, it is unclear how many of these varieties are currently used in agriculture or horticulture around the world, as these seeds are not always identified or labeled as being mutagenic or having a mutagenic provenance.

Process

There are different kinds of mutagenic breeding such as using chemical mutagens like EMS and DMS, radiation and transposons are used to generate mutants. Mutation breeding is commonly used to produce traits in crops such as larger seeds, new colors, or sweeter fruits that either cannot be found in nature or have been lost during evolution.

A good example of how chemical mutagenesis can be used to create certain traits is Clearfield wheat:

In 2003 BASF, the chemical company, introduced Clearfield wheat, which is tolerant to their proprietary herbicide Beyond, much like Roundup Ready Corn is tolerant of glyphosate. They proudly proclaim that the wheat is not the product of genetic engineering, but of “enhanced traditional plant breeding” methods. What, exactly, are these enhanced methods that allows a plant to resist a persistent herbicide?

The technique is called “chemical mutagenesis” and might be worse than GMO engineering. Using a highly toxic chemical – sodium azide – as well as gamma and x-ray radiation, the exposed wheat embryo mutates. After further experimentation, testing and development, Clearfield wheat emerges and is tolerant of the Beyond herbicide. Clearfield is now supplied in 20 varieties and nearly a million acres are planted with it in the US and Canada.

I have purchased, traded for, and saved organic heirloom seeds. These are seeds that have undergone absolutely no chemical or radiation treatments. The seeds gathered from subsequent plants are viable and you can save them for next year’s planting and get a crop that is basically the same as the parent crop.

When saving seed, always harvest from the best. Choose disease-free plants with qualities you desire. Look for the most flavorful vegetables or beautiful flowers. Consider size, harvest time and other characteristics.

By choosing from the best each season, you encourage the traits that you desire. This is the natural way. It is considerably more time consuming than simply changing the genetics via radiation and chemicals, but in my opinion, it is the way to go. This is true organic cultivation.

So, the bottom line is that it really doesn’t matter to me if it is labeled ‘USDA Certified Organic’ or not. If it has been irradiated, chemically bathed with toxic, carcinogenic chemicals and mutated to within an inch of its life, it is not truly organic. What’s next? GMO Organic Made by Monsanto and stamped with the USDA Certified Organic seal of approval?

There appears to be either chemicals or pesticides on
their kale, chard, brocolli and Earthbound frozen kale and collards.
Isn’t this misleading?

USDA is committing knowing and willful harmful intent,
and misleading, fraudulent and deceitful business practice
and dis-honest, deceitful labeling practices.

Intelligent Legal action can be taken
towards the USDA, and several Organic Companies under
the USDA label.

Name and shame the USDA and companies who participate
in negligent labeling practices.

Grassroots entrepenuers beginning new standards by the people
and public, new organic labels by the public with third party
testing by the people and public and testers with conscience.

Test your foods that are so called “labeled organic”
and save that for evidence for action at every level.

establish and re-create new laws that protect the
best good and Rights of the individual and community.
Overturning and Nullifying counterlawsuits that has intent
to harm.
new laws with no intent to harm in any way, shape, fashion,
degree, or form. loophole-free.

Being GMO-Free, GE-Free, Pesticide-Free, Chemical-Free and any derivative is the NEW THING, THE NEW COOL, THE NEW BLUE,
THE HIP THING, THE REAL GREEN TO DO AND BE.

when a norm, way of doing, a practice, and a “rule”
is no longer morally or culturally tolerated and acceptable,
it is no longer part of individual consciousness.

Excellent points Barbara, what a superb piece of writing! The bigger solution of course is to end this genetic insanity and throw our all into mitigating the damage already done by the mad scientists in the fraudulent claim / name of feeding the world! This tired excuse/ justification has been proven the lie it always was. The toxic seeds and farming practices alone are responsible for chronic epigenetic human health decline of an unparalleled and scientifically ignored death spiral, of human life.

I have been saying for years that Clearfield is Gm by stealth!
I read their labels and was horrified thay get away with this.
to find USDA allows it to be called organic..defies any logic or truth.
Farmer friends son chose to grow clearfield canol o his land 2 seasons back, the worst crop theyd ever had:-)
cheered me up heaps and theyve NOT bought any more seed, but the crop that was has of course, left seeds and future crops are contaminated now too.